conto

[ kon-toh; Portuguese kawn-too ]

noun

, plural con·tos [kon, -tohz, kawn, -t, oo, sh, kawn, -t, oo, s].

1. a money of account of Portugal and Cape Verde, equal to 1000 escudos.
2. a former money of account in Portugal and Brazil equal to 1000 milreis.

conto

/ ˈkɒntəʊ; ˈkõːtu /

noun

1. a former Portuguese monetary unit worth 1000 escudos
2. an unofficial Brazilian monetary unit worth 1000 cruzeiros (now replaced by the real)

Word History and Origins

Origin of conto¹

1595–1605; < Portuguese < Late Latin computus reckoning, noun derivative of Latin computāre to compute; count ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of conto¹

C17: from Portuguese, from Late Latin computus calculation, from computāre to reckon, compute ; see count ¹

Example Sentences

The sum required was a large one, 20,000 contos, and the venerable Bishop hastened to assure him, with unfeigned sorrow, that the poor and suffering city could not command one-fourth of the amount.

From Project Gutenberg

Took at Admiral's desire 500 dollars for my distribution of the 100 contos in part received—from which it appears that I am to have half per cent, for distribution.

From Project Gutenberg

The king's income, under the civil list, was a "conto of reis" a day, or something over £80,000 a year.

From Project Gutenberg

Have you heard tell of the famous diamond of Abaete, which was valued at more than two million contos of reis?

From Project Gutenberg

I therefore use the freedom to assure Your Excellency the amount of 400 contos of Reis, as an indemnification for your losses.

From Project Gutenberg